“Georgia aren’t a team who we know a lot about”, New Zealand coach Steve Hansen says, in his typically matter-of-fact style.
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Naholo was named alongside Richie McCaw, Dan Carter, Kieran Read and a host of other senior All Blacks who did not start in the 58-14 romp over Namibia.
He sustained a hairline fracture to his fibula on debut for New Zealand on July 17 against Argentina in the Rugby Championship.
With Ma’a Nonu ruled out with a shoulder injury, Sonny Bill Williams gets another start at second five.
The All Blacks coach is simply glad to have the winger making his World Cup debut against Georgia tomorrow as New Zealand aim to become the first country through to the quarter-finals.
“He placed a few of the leaves we use back in Fiji“, he said. “We’ve got a five-day backup after this All Blacks game, and Namibia’s very important for us to achieve our goal of qualifying automatically for 2019”.
“To have a guy who was probably the player of Super Rugby – the top try scorer – gives us genuine pace and ability to beat people”, Hansen said.
Wing Julian Savea starts his third consecutive match while Ben Smith returns at fullback.
Both back up number 10s, Beauden Barrett and Colin Slade are on the injured list as is centre Ma’a Nonu, who remains stranded on 99 Tests.
He has been replaced by Sonny Bill Williams and Steve Hansen has had to name two halfbacks – Tawera Kerr Barlow and TJ Perenara – on the reserves bench.
The new look in the forwards sees role reversals with Charlie Faumuina and Wyatt Crockett while Owen Franks and Tony Woodcock warm the bench.
But no matter how attritional Georgia will seek to make the game, there can surely be only one result under the closed roof at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium.
The All Blacks are expecting a tough physical contest up front against Georgia, and are looking to up the intensity with only one further pool match remaining, against Tonga in Newcastle next week.
In an effort to boost his recovery, Naholo visited Fiji to receive traditional healing from his uncle, including putting leaves on the leg. He has been “100 per cent” for a week, Hansen said, and has had to be held back in training.
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Victory in that game would put them on course for third place in the group and with it automatic qualification for the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
